Jammu and Kashmir is a multilingual region. Different parts of the Union Territory have different major mother tongues, shaped by geography, culture and local communities.
Main Languages of Jammu and Kashmir
The Census of India 2011 records many mother tongues in Jammu and Kashmir. Among the major language groups are Kashmiri, Dogri, Gojri, Pahari, Urdu and Punjabi. The language pattern changes from one district to another.
Kashmiri
Kashmiri is the main mother tongue across much of the Kashmir Valley. It is widely reported in districts such as Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Bandipora, Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag and Kulgam.
Dogri
Dogri is strongly associated with the Jammu region. It is a major mother tongue in districts including Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur and Reasi.
Gojri
Gojri, also called Gojri/Gujjari/Gujar in Census classifications, is spoken by communities across several mountainous and border districts. It has a significant presence in areas such as Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Ramban and Kishtwar.
Pahari
Pahari is especially important in the Pir Panjal belt, including Poonch and Rajouri, and is also spoken in parts of Udhampur and other hill areas.
Urdu and Punjabi
Urdu is widely used across Jammu and Kashmir as a language of communication and administration, while Punjabi has a notable presence in parts of the Jammu region. Their mother-tongue shares vary by district.
Reasi Language Pattern
Reasi is a multilingual district. In the 2011 Census mother-tongue data, Dogri, Gojri and Kashmiri are among its leading language groups. This is an example of how several languages can have a strong presence within the same district.
District-Wise Language Diversity
The official Census C-16 dataset provides mother-tongue data for the 22 districts used in the 2011 Jammu and Kashmir Census. The data includes total, rural and urban populations and records individual mother tongues.
Important Note
These figures describe mother tongue reported in Census 2011. They should not be interpreted as the total number of people who can speak, understand or use a language as a second language.
Source: Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India, Population Census 2011, Table C-16: Population by Mother Tongue, Jammu and Kashmir.
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